The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

★ ★ ★ ★

“There is only one way to learn. It's through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey.”

Probably the most quotable book I have read, that I have been repetitively recommended, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho follows a shepherd boy called Santiago as he goes on an adventure through Egypt to find treasure in the pyramids. He meets various people along the way who provide him with many lessons, cementing the journey as the treasure itself.

Coelho's writing is incredibly inspiring, a contemporary text that feels like you are reading a classic (which is perhaps why it has managed to slide into that genre over time).

I wouldn't say The Alchemist is a book necessarily for entertainment, rather a tool to read over and over again, to inspire and learn from. A classic for a reason, perhaps slightly over-hyped, but definitely worth the read.